Mark Ferrandino, Colorado's first gay House speaker, takes gavel

Incoming Colorado Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, right, hands over the gavel used by outgoing speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, as Democrats take control in the House of Representatives as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Ferrandino is the first gay house speaker in the history of the Centennial State. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Outgoing Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, shakes hands with incoming House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, as Democrats take control of the House of Representatives as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Framed by staff workers, Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, center, takes a call before assuming leadership control in the House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 as the Colorado Legislature opens its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

As house clerks hurry to place his name card into place on the front of the lectern, newly-introduced Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, readies his remarks after taking control of the Colorado House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 as the Colorado Legislature opens its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. Ferrandino is the first openly gay lawmaker to hold the job of house speaker in the history of the Centennial State. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, right, is photographed with his twin sister, Nicole McWhirter, center, and his husband Greg Wertsch on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, introduces officials on hand in the House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 as the Colorado Legislature opens its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Minority leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, jokes with members of his party in the House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 as the Colorado Legislature opens its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Freshman Rep. Edward Vigil, D-Fort Garland, right, jokes with his wie, Evelyn, as they look over his desk on the floor in the House of Representatives as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Audience members applaud the introduction of Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, as the new Colorado Speaker of the House in the House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 as the Colorado Legislature opens its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, jokes with lawmakers in the House of Representatives as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Janet Buckner, left, wife of incoming Rep. John Buckner, D-Aurora, right, holds up the new license plate for her husband's vehicle as he takes his seat in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Incoming Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora, carries his 8-month-old daughter, Blake, while his wife, Lynne, looks on as the family enters the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Freshman Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, left, gets help with placing his house pin on his lapel from his wife, Allison Barrett, in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, right, is congratulated by his twin sister, Nicole McWhirter, left, as Ferrandino's husband, Greg Wertsch, looks on, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, as the Colorado Legislature opened its general session in the State Capitol in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

This courtroom sketch shows James Holmes being escorted by a deputy as he arrives at preliminary hearing in district court in Centennial, Colo., on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Investigators say Holmes opened fire during the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie on July 20, killing 12 people and wounding dozens. (AP Photo/Bill Robles, Pool) TV OUT

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DENVER — Democratic Rep. Mark Ferrandino was sworn in Wednesday as Colorado’s first gay House speaker, highlighting a dramatic shift of power less than a year after Republicans used their former majority to block civil unions for same-sex couples.

“This is the greatest honor of my life, and I am humbled to stand here before you today,” Ferrandino said in a speech after his selection became official.

Former Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty handed the gavel to Ferrandino to start the 2013 lawmaking session. In May, Republicans used the gavel to stall action on civil unions and run out the clock on the bill. Republicans had a one-vote majority then, but after the November elections, Democrats now have a nine-seat advantage.

During his speech, Ferrandino called McNulty a friend.

“Some might say we’ve had our moments, but I know how deeply you care about this state, and I respect the work you’ve done,” Ferrandino said.

In the Senate, Democrats retained control after the elections. That means that after two years of divided government and limited agendas, the Colorado Legislature likely will see a flurry of legislation favored by Democrats, including civil unions, gun control, tuition benefits for illegal immigrants, and expanded Medicaid for low-income adults.

The civil unions legislation was introduced Wednesday in the Senate, where a few broke legislative decorum and applauded the bill as it was announced.

Ferrandino said the first priority will be economic development, saying, “We have to find ways to accelerate our state’s economy and connect more Coloradans to good jobs.”

The speech also touched on what are expected to be the most emotional and contentious issues, including gun control, which likely will draw a heated debate in the aftermath of the Aurora theater shootings and the attack at a Connecticut elementary school.

“The Second Amendment is sacrosanct. But so is the First,” Ferrandino said. “It is our right — and the time is right — to speak openly and honestly about how we can curb the gun violence that costs our communities far too many sons and daughters.”

Ferrandino noted civil unions are a matter of fairness and said, “We must acknowledge that all committed couples deserve equal protection under the law.”

He said Democrats will try to lower tuition for illegal immigrants who graduate from Colorado high schools but have to pay more than three times the price that legal state residents pay to go to college.

House Republican Leader Mark Waller made opportunity the theme of his speech, and called on lawmakers to make funding for schools and colleges a priority.

“At the end of the day, Coloradoans just want a paycheck, not an unemployment check,” he said.

In the Senate, both Republican Leader Bill Cadman and new President John Morse urged members to focus on what the parties have in common.

“We need to keep our focus on our shared values and our common goals, and we have some,” Cadman said.